Clean Air-Cool Planet is the Northeast's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to finding and promoting solutions to global warming.
Clean Air-Cool Planet is the Northeast's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to finding and promoting solutions to global warming.
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Quote of Note Plan Ahead! Register for the second annual Global Warming Speakers Training in Boston, jointly hosted by CA-CP, the Greenhouse Network and MCAN. Did You Know? Website Spotlight |
Announcing the Carbon Coalition
Citing carbon pollution as “the greatest threat to our natural environment,” the Coalition intends to ask all national and local candidates regardless of their party to support the goals of the New England Governors’ Conference (see below) and a national reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 15 to 20 percent below today’s levels by 2010.
The group’s founders and organizers are basing their approach for the new campaign on the early successes of environmental advocates who were working on acid rain issues in the 1970’s. By making sure the subjects of acid rain and pollution was broached at town meetings across New Hampshire during the lead-up to the presidential primary, activists were successful in creating the political attention momentum necessary to get the national Clean Air Act passed. “The citizens of New Hampshire successfully brought the acid rain problem to the attention of the nation 20 years ago so that politicians had to respond. They can and must do the same starting today,” said Rafe Pomerance, who is former US Deputy Undersecretary of State for Environment and Development. A non-partisan effort chaired by Republican State Representative Edward “Ted” Leach and former state Democratic Party leader Joe Keefe, the coalition was created by the state’s leading environmental groups, including the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Appalachian Mountain Club, Audubon Society of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Public Interest Research Group, and Clean Air – Cool Planet. Several of the group’s founders and supporters gave statements at the launch event, where U.S. Congressman Jeb Bradley keynoted. Speaking of the urgent need for political action on climate, co-founder Ted Leach observed. “This is a large-scale problem. And like any large-scale purchase, there will never be a less expensive time to close the deal than the present. Delay is going to be extremely costly for everyone. We cannot continue to suffer the profound health, economic, and environmental consequences of our dirty air when the answers lie right in front of us."
The answers, according to co-founder Joe Keefe, are in “unified action by citizens, regardless of their political persuasion, to promote sound energy policies that will simultaneously cut air pollution, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and stimulate our economy.”
Keefe and Leach noted their bi-partisan presence in a non-partisan effort is intended to illustrate the need for all parties to do more in this vital effort. “Make no mistake about this: We are all in this together,” Leach said. “The solution does not require new technologies, or some other undefined remedy, the only ingredient that is needed is commitment. When the grassroots is energized, things get done. And that is what this coalition is all about." Co-chairs Keefe and Leach reiterated that the new coalition “will mobilize and educate New Hampshire residents to act on solutions to the carbon pollution problem,” pledging an “intensifying state-wide campaign.” To find out how YOU can get involved in this crucial new endeavor, visit: www.carboncoalition.org -- Jennifer Andrews |
The Carbon Coalition, a newly-formed climate-focused initiative, issued an environmental call-to-action for New Hampshire citizens in the fight against air pollution this April, announcing the launch of a new campaign to “put global warming and the damaging health and economic effects of carbon pollution high on the political agenda.”
